Ron McElroy knows what it is like to come from the wrong side of the tracks. A native of Hawaii who grew up in southern California and now lives in Laguna Beach, McElroy comes from a family that battled mental illness, abuse, drugs, and alcohol. Despite the overwhelming odds, he went on to enjoy a career on the amateur surfing circuit and ultimately built a real estate development empire.

McElroy chronicles the difficult experiences from his childhood in, “Wrong Side of the Tracks: A Memoir.” Now he wants to give back by helping local Hawaiians find entrepreneurial success. His business, Los Angeles-based Real Office Centers, next year intends to open an office in Hawaii with a business incubator program.